Brexit to hit Scottish seafood processors hardest

Brexit will hit Scottish seafood processors hardest compared with the rest of the United Kingdom, as the vast majority of workers come from European Economic Area (EEA) countries, according to new figures.

A survey of 18 firms for Marine Scotland found 58 percent of staff in Scottish plants came from European Economic Area (EEA) countries, compared with 42 percent for the whole of the UK, reports STV ﻿News.

Polish, Lithuanian and Latvian nationals were the most likely to be employed, with the highest proportion of EEA staff (64 percent) working in mixed or white fish processing firms, the majority of which are found in the north-east of Scotland.

A large majority (86 percent) of employees working in the industry were on permanent contracts, the survey found.

"As cited by the capture sector, recruiting UK nationals has become more challenging over the years, which has increased the dependency on a non-UK workforce,” Marine Scotland said.

This dependency has resulted in the surveyed seafood processing businesses voicing their concerns on finding suitable and reliable labor if, when the UK exits from the EU, there are changes to the free movement of people.

"This has resulted in some businesses citing the EU exit as a significant threat to their business' operational viability,” said Fergus Ewing the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy.

This study shows how highly dependent the Scottish seafood processing sector is on EEA workers and raises concerns from processors that Brexit could threaten their businesses' survival.

This study backs up recent analysis which found EU nationals contribute more than £4.4 billion (€5 billion/$6 billion) a year to our economy and shows exactly why we value the contribution they make in our communities.

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Brexit to hit Scottish seafood processors hardest

Brexit will hit Scottish seafood processors hardest compared with the rest of the United Kingdom, as the vast majority of workers come from European Economic Area (EEA) countries, according to new figures.

A survey of 18 firms for Marine Scotland found 58 percent of staff in Scottish plants came from European Economic Area (EEA) countries, compared with 42 percent for the whole of the UK, reports STV ﻿News.

Polish, Lithuanian and Latvian nationals were the most likely to be employed, with the highest proportion of EEA staff (64 percent) working in mixed or white fish processing firms, the majority of which are found in the north-east of Scotland.

A large majority (86 percent) of employees working in the industry were on permanent contracts, the survey found.

"As cited by the capture sector, recruiting UK nationals has become more challenging over the years, which has increased the dependency on a non-UK workforce,” Marine Scotland said.

This dependency has resulted in the surveyed seafood processing businesses voicing their concerns on finding suitable and reliable labor if, when the UK exits from the EU, there are changes to the free movement of people.

"This has resulted in some businesses citing the EU exit as a significant threat to their business' operational viability,” said Fergus Ewing the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy.

This study shows how highly dependent the Scottish seafood processing sector is on EEA workers and raises concerns from processors that Brexit could threaten their businesses' survival.

This study backs up recent analysis which found EU nationals contribute more than £4.4 billion (€5 billion/$6 billion) a year to our economy and shows exactly why we value the contribution they make in our communities.